Published in weekly installments from April 1859 to November 1859 in the Victorian Period.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1999. Print.
French Revolution
The French Revolution was a violent time period in France where starving peasants rose up to rebel against a cruel nobility that treated the French people like animals. Failed crop harvests and shortages of bread killed commoners while the wealthy were unaffected, trampling the people in the streets like dogs. The French Revolution largely took place in the time period when King Louis XVI ruled, and began with the storming of the Bastille in July of 1789. Nobles were beheaded once the peasants took over, beginning with the king.
Plot Summary
Book 1
In Book 1 of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Mr. Lorry is assisted by Jerry Cruncher in fetching Lucie Manette and going to visit the Defarges in France to see her father. Dr. Manette was only recently found to be alive, and has lost a sense of who he was before being imprisoned. The Defarges are keeping him in their house after helping him escape. To show the terrible living conditions in France, Dickens has the peasants lick up spilled wine from the street.
Book 2
In Book 2 of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Charles Darnay is tried in an English court for being a spy from France, and is saved by Lucie Manette and Sydney Carton, who looks like him. Stryver argues with Carton over the matters of marrying while Dr. Manette continues thinking in times of stress that he is a cobbler. Monseigneur the Marquis kills someone's baby and is assassinated during the next night after meeting with his nephew Charles. Charles, Sydney, and Stryver all seek the heart of Lucie Manette. The Defarges lead a revolt against the Bastille, but the battle ends and the people still have no food. Charles Darnay is summoned to Paris to see an old acquaintance.
Book 3
In Book 3 of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Charles Darnay is escorted into a prison due to his paperwork showing that he is the current Marquis Evremonde. Lucie and her father arrive in Paris along with Lucie's daughter, and they try to save Charles by using Dr. Manette's power in the revolution to sway the court. Charles survives the trial and the bloodthirsty guillotine is still waiting. Madame Defarge brings forth a letter written by Dr. Manette while in captivity that explains the atrocities done by the Evremonde twins. Charles is found guilty, and his only salvation comes in the form of Sydney Carton sacrificing himself to be executed instead and Ms. Pross killing Madame Defarge. The Manettes, Mr. Lorry, and Darnay run away in a carriage back to England.
Characters
Mr. Jarvis Lorry - An employee of Tellson's Bank, Mr. Lorry is employed by Dr. Manette and takes care of Lucie's monetary issues. He symbolically gives Jerry Cruncher the message to deliver of "Recalled to life" (Dickens 7), which is a riddle until Dickens explains that Dr. Manette is recalled to life or free. Mr. Lorry focuses on business, and even loves to repeat the word business, but later on he becomes emotionally attached to Lucie and changes to give Stryver emotional rather than practical advice on marrying Lucie. Mr. Lorry is also a connection between Paris and London due to his business. He tries to uphold traditions as a member of Tellson's Bank.
Jerry Cruncher - Jerry is a primitive, violent man who works odd jobs at Tellson's Bank but calls himself an "honest tradesman" (Dickens 9). Jerry is nervous all of the time because his side job is digging up graves. He is superstitious and thinks that his wife's praying is the reason he does not find bodies in the graves. Jerry is often drunk. He begins to do good, however, when he identifies the evils of Barsad. Lucie Manette - Lucie is a ray of hope who touches the lives of all who she meets. Her golden hair reminds her father of who he was before being imprisoned, and she makes juries feel empathy for prisoners when she does. She helps the other characters change for the better.
Dr. Alexander Manette - The French Revolutionaries view Dr. Manette as a living martyr due to what he suffered during his imprisonment, and he therefore holds power among them. He is recalled to life as a power tool for the Defarges, but he thinks that he is in prison every time something stressful occurs. He reverts to making shoes when Lucie gets married to Darnay and is no longer his to cherish, and also when Darnay is sentenced to death by guillotine.
Ernest "Jacques" Defarge - Once a servant to Dr. Manette, Ernest Defarge is a leader in the French Revolution and calls himself "Jacques" to blend in with other revolutionaries. Although he appears to be in a high position among the commoners, almost everything he does is an order from his wife. Lucy helps him feel empathy for Darnay, and he decides that after his wife kills Darnay, the revenge should end. When he disagrees with his wife and does not want the Manettes to suffer anymore, he is ignored and replaced. As a revolutionary, he wants to change the tradition of violence in France.
Madame Therese Defarge - Always knitting, Madame Defarge is the master puppeteer of the revolution, and planned all along for The Vengeance to control the era. She defiantly tells her husband to "tell Wind and Fire where to stop... but don't tell me" (Dickens 264). She is driven by revenge, not hope for a better life or country. All she thinks about is her siblings' deaths.
Charles "Darnay" Evremonde - Charles Darnay changes the tradition of the Evremonde family and tries to be peaceful and accepting. He resembles an archetypal fairy tale prince, and behaves respectfully, unlike his uncle the Marquis.
Marquis Evremonde - The arrogant twin of Charle's father, the Marquis is "attended by the Furies" (Dickens 87). A demon-like presence, the Marquis is the incarnation of evil. The most important detail about the Marquis is that his older brother was said to be even more evil, justifying Madame Defarge's thirst for Evremonde blood.
John Barsad (Solomon Pross) - A traitor to everyone except his partner Roger Cly, Barsad takes all of Miss Pross' wealth and becomes a spy in Paris. Barsad is a false witness in Darnay's trial, and will do anything for money. He is an Englishman who works as a French official, but is also spying on the French. Barsad is described as "one of the greatest scoundrels upon the earth since accursed Judas-which he certainly did look rather like" (Dickens 56). Later, however, he is partially redeemed when Sydney makes him help in a plot to save Darnay's life.
Miss Pross - Kind and forgiving, Miss Pross loves her brother despite everything that he does. She calls Lucie "Ladybird" and watches over her for most of Lucie's life. Miss Pross is quite stocky in build, which assists her when she conquers Madame Defarge in a classic struggle between love and hate.
Seamstress - The seamstress that Sydney meets shortly before both are executed by the guillotine comments that Sydney seems to be sent from heaven. The seamstress needs heavenly aid because she too is being sacrificed. She thinks that her death will be for the good of her family and the revolution even though she is innocent.
Sydney Carton - Hard-working and intellectual, Sydney tends to give all the credit for his work to Stryver, and drinks his life away instead. When he meets Lucie, he falls in love with her, but he has such a generous personality that he is happy Lucie does not love him back so that she can be with a man who can take better care of her than Sydney can. Sydney stops drinking after spending time with Lucie, and changes so much that he sacrifices himself to save Darnay. His personality changes as well, because in his final thoughts, he reflects that he really wants the Manettes and Darnay to be grateful and remember him, which is the opposite of how he used to give away the credit to his work. Sydney Carton is portrayed as a form of Christ figure by his sacrifices.
Important Quotes
"tell Wind and Fire where to stop... but don't tell me" (Dickens 264) - Madame Defarge's vengeance is more powerful than the elements themselves, and someone who can control even the wind and the fire still cannot control her hatred for the Evremondes.
"one of the greatest scoundrels upon the earth since accursed Judas-which he certainly did look rather like" (Dickens 56) - Barsad behaves treacherously throughout the book, but this quote is symbolic especially due to the form of betrayal that Judas is known for. Sydney Carton is portrayed as a Christ figure, and Judas is known for pointing out who Jesus was. Later on, Barsad is given the choice of betraying Sydney as the incorrect prisoner, but instead has changed and goes with Carton's plan.
"I am not unwilling to die, if the Republic which is to do so much good to us poor, will profit by my death" (Dickens 276) - Dickens shows the readers the irony of the revolution. The Republic that should be helping the poor is killing the poor. The poor seamstress is also "not unwilling to die," but under the condition that her death is for the greater good. Not only does the revolution kill her, but she dies for no benefit to anyone.
"murdering the prisoners... make yourself known to these devils" (Dickens 203) - Mr. Lorry denounces the actions of the revolutionists and says that they are murdering prisoners, which is the same thing that the nobility did before the revolution. He also calls them "devils," and this parallels the demon symbolism used to describe the Marquis, showing that the revolutionaries are no better than the Marquis.
"attended by the Furies" (Dickens 87) - The Marquis Evremonde is described to be "attended by Furies" when he drives his carriage partially due to the great speeds at which he drives, but also because of the devil symbolism. By being attended by demons, The Marquis himself is shown to be a creature from Hell.
"Recalled to life" (Dickens 7) - Mr. Lorry's statement is not only puzzling at first due to his lack of explanation, but it introduces the theme of rebirth, which recurs throughout the book. Darnay is brought to the brink of death and back much like Dr. Manette. The word "recall" also suggests that Dr. Manette was recalled to carry out a task, perhaps remember something so that he can finish it. This task is the vengeance of Madame Defarge.
"nearest trees, laid hold of by the fire, scorched and shriveled" (Dickens 179) - Dickens is describing the fires of the revolution after the Marquis is killed. Fire can symbolize rebirth, but the trees here are "scorched and shriveled." Instead of ashes for new trees to grow, the old trees are simply becoming more twisted. This symbolism shows that the new leaders of France are no better than the old, and could even be worse.
"all flashes away. Twenty-Three" (Dickens 292) - When Sydney dies, the women knitting barely look up. They simply count twenty-three, not even remembering his name. Only The Vengeance knows that this prisoner is special. The number twenty-three is symbolic because Psalm 23 from the Bible is where God is described as a good shepherd that can take care of humans, and Sydney recently began to be more religious, so it means a lot for him to die at peace.
"child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name" (Dickens 292) - Sydney does not actually know that there will be a child named after him, but he foresees it anyway because he has changed to care more about himself. Although he is laying his life down for another, he wants to be remembered for it.
"'How goes the Republic?' 'You mean the Guillotine'" (Dickens 242) - Sydney is talking to a patriot, and even the revolutionaries have forgotten their promise of brotherhood and prosperity. Dickens cautions that in revolution, there is no rebirth, there is only death.
Significance of Opening and Closing Scenes
In the first scene of the novel, Dickens describes the atrocities of the time period in both England and France. He explains that there is need for change, because people are dying needlessly due to the oppression of the nobility. Executioners are the most valuable members of society, and any crime will merit death.
In the final scene of the novel, Dickens uses the seamstress to show that although the French Revolution was successful in overthrowing the nobility, there was no reform. Not only are the needless executions continuing, but even innocent people are being slaughtered. Not only are innocents being killed, but those who fought the revolution are being killed by it despite their victory. All of the work done by the guillotine is said to be necessary for the creation of a Republic, but the Republic is being killed at the same time.
Theme: The Strife of the Poor
At the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, the poor are being slaughtered like pigs instead of being fed. It seems that the cause of their troubles is the fault of the nobility. The Marquis Evremonde brings this claim to life by killing a baby and throwing a worthless coin in compensation. The money is worthless because there is no more food to buy. The Marquis continues home to have chocolate served by four men. Even the chocolate servers are richer than the commoners. After the commoners revolt, however, the strife of the poor remains the same, and although the peasants have become well-armed, they are just as hungry as before. Still angry, the peasants blame their problems on the destroyed aristocracy, who also no longer have possessions. The peasants kill right and left thinking that their lives will improve, but the blood is not wine like they think, and the poor have no one left to blame. Although the poor are no longer abused and killed by the nobles, they are still being killed and mistreated by themselves. Dickens seems to be suggesting that the poor will always struggle to survive even when there are no rich people.
Graphic Satire
The political cartoon "Dear Grand Successor (Whatever) Loves Video Games" is a satirical representation of Kim Jong Un of North Korea to portray him as childish and ignorant. Instead of referring to him directly, the graphic satire calls the leader "Successor." He is ironically being called a "sheer military genius" despite all of his achievements being in a simulated video game. The console he is playing on is the X-Box, which is designed in America, one of the enemies mentioned, because he is dependent on others despite his claims. His flip-flops have his face on them, showing his arrogance. The artist alludes to the politics of North Korea being a game as well by showing that his enemies change with little no no reasoning. All of these details identify childish traits.
Propaganda
My propaganda button appeals to emotion by using symbolism and humor to make the viewer feel that joining the French Revolution is the honorable thing to do. By using a celebrity, the button appeals to popularity across different parts of the population, because celebrities are known to all, much like Dr. Manette was known by almost everyone in France. Instead of "The Rock," I used the pun "The Jacques" because the revolutionaries often were known as Jacques, and by changing the nickname, it gives the viewer something to identify to if they join the revolution. I also used more stone symbolism, because "The Rock" is holding a golden Medusa. Medusa is portrayed as angelic because turning enemies to stone is the purpose of the revolution, and making the killing golden gives the viewer a sense of justification for their hatred. The golden color also symbolizes hope within the dark image of the button, much like Lucy Manette is the golden light in the dark. "The Jacques" is holding Medusa because the propaganda is suggesting that if the viewer joins the French Revolution, they can fight for their light. Only those in the revolution are illuminated by the figurehead of the golden executioner.
Connections to Other Media
The Lottery - Shirley Jackson
The short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is similar to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens because both stories examine the themes of tradition and change. In A Tale of Two Cities, the upper class French citizens have unjust traditions of abuse towards the peasants and commoners. Despite the dissatisfaction of the population, the nobility does not change the traditions. Even when the peasants rise up and revolt against the nobility, the traditions do not cease because the commoners take up the torch of mistreating their fellow countrymen. Even the people that the revolutionaries were fighting for are killed in the purge. In "The Lottery," villagers annually hold a tradition of killing a random member of their community. No one knows why the tradition takes place, even Old Man Warner, but everyone participates in the cruel activity. Each time someone calls for even a slight change, the community silences them and ignores the request. The woman who is chosen to be sacrificed in "The Lottery," Mrs. Hutchinson, is friends with other members of the society, but even her husband sides against her when she is sentenced to death. The annual lottery is said to be beneficial for the community, but the members are harmed, similar to how the revolution for the French poor ends up killing an innocent seamstress in A Tale of Two Cities.
Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery." Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Evangelion X - Anonymuz
The song "Evangelion X" by Anonymuz has many similarities to "The Vengeance" from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. The Vengeance is often referred to as a character, but is simply the idea that Madame Defarge pursues. Vengeance is the foundation of the revolution despite the facade of brotherhood. The song "Evangelion X" follows a character in a torn apart city where he is the last constant that people cling to. He states that he "put the city on my back like I'm Atlas," much like The Vengeance carries the will of the peasants on her shoulders. The main character of the song also states that "I am not a god, I am not a man... I'm a being, I'm a presence, I'm a thing," which mirrors The Vengeance being present everywhere Madame Defarge goes despite being inhuman. Both the song by Anonymuz and the book by Charles Dickens follow the only solid ground in a falling city.
The comedy show Family Guy features a character that behaves almost identically to Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Brian, the Griffin family's dog, is likely the most educated resident in the household. He offers his intellectual support to help the family through a wide variety of problems, but Peter Griffin, the father, tends to take credit for Brian's achievements. Peter is arrogant and loud, mirroring Stryver from A Tale of Two Cities, who also takes credit for Sydney's work. Like Sydney, Brian drowns his troubles with alcohol, and is rarely sober. He sees the Griffin family behaving obnoxiously towards the town and tries to ignore it by fetching alcohol and leaving the vicinity. The two also both make sacrifices on behalf of their friends who rarely appreciate them. Sydney lays down his life to save Charles so that Lucy can keep her husband and little Lucy will have a father. Brian sacrifices his dignity to try to win money at a dog show to buy a new air conditioner. Brian and Sydney both take up mature roles despite their ages to support their friends.
McFarlane, Seth, prod. Family Guy. Fox Broadcasting Company. Netflix. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Journals
Compare/Contrast Lorry & Defarge
In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Mr. Lorry and Monsieur Defarge are both influential men who help Lucie and her father. Defarge, unlike Mr. Lorry, takes orders from his wife as to how he should act. Mr. Lorry acts independently to bring Lucie to meet her father, but at the wine-shop, Defarge seems to be in charge while his wife Madame Defarge "coughed just one grain of cough" in response to her husband arriving. The cough orders Defarge to look among the customers for a newcomer. Every insignificant cough by Madame Defarge is a prompt that controls the discussion that the men have. Defarge is simply a facade, not truly as powerful as he appears. Mr. Lorry, however, is in control of himself, and sends Jerry as a messenger with his own puzzling prompts. When his stagecoach appears to be robbed, he remains calm and does not mind bein accused. Mr. Lorry and Defarge worked for Dr. Manette before he was locked up, but Mr. Lorry works to preserve traditions while Defarge wants to change the status quo.
Write a character analysis of Carton
Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is very much like Mr. Lorry due to his facade of detachment from personal affairs while he is truly emotional at heart. Carton helps save Charles Darnay' life, but is not very friendly with him afterwards. He is known to drink often, and Darnay is aware of this. Carton asks Darnay "How does it feel" (Dickens 63) to be tried for his life where he gets the pity of Lucie Manette, perhaps envying the emotions Darnay has for Lucie. Carton does a good deed by convincing the jury to spare an innocent man's life, but tells himself that "no man on earth cares for me" (Dickens 63). Instead of being sociable and kind like his actions seem to suggest of him, Carton drinks his life away, tormented. He is called a jackal by Dickens in comparisson to his associate Stryver being known as a lion. Lions are prideful and up-front carnivores who are famous for bravery, but jackals are predators who hide in the shadows. Sydney Carton, living up to this title, is in the day only seen "going home stealthily and unsteadily" (Dickens 65). Like Mr. Lorry, he is very methodical and although he helps Darnay like Mr. Lorry helps Lucie and her father, he keeps the interactions labelled on the surface as business although he is kind deep down.
Villanelle
Dreams of the Revolution
To arms; we storm the Bastille
Our salvation is nigh
Oh how marvelous it will feel
The iron bars back I peel
The aristocracy will shortly die
To arms; we storm the Bastille
What will we find? I seek a meal
A morsel could satisfy
Oh how marvelous it will feel
Hear the hiss of our cold steel
Now hear our battlecry
To arms; we storm the Bastille
Our success seems surreal
Hush now; my throat runs dry
Oh how marvelous it will feel
Now returns our ordeal
Empty stomachs still cry
To arms; we storm the Bastille
Oh how marvelous it will feel
Table of Contents
Published in weekly installments from April 1859 to November 1859 in the Victorian Period.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1999. Print.
French Revolution
The French Revolution was a violent time period in France where starving peasants rose up to rebel against a cruel nobility that treated the French people like animals. Failed crop harvests and shortages of bread killed commoners while the wealthy were unaffected, trampling the people in the streets like dogs. The French Revolution largely took place in the time period when King Louis XVI ruled, and began with the storming of the Bastille in July of 1789. Nobles were beheaded once the peasants took over, beginning with the king.
Plot Summary
Book 1
In Book 1 of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Mr. Lorry is assisted by Jerry Cruncher in fetching Lucie Manette and going to visit the Defarges in France to see her father. Dr. Manette was only recently found to be alive, and has lost a sense of who he was before being imprisoned. The Defarges are keeping him in their house after helping him escape. To show the terrible living conditions in France, Dickens has the peasants lick up spilled wine from the street.
Book 2
In Book 2 of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Charles Darnay is tried in an English court for being a spy from France, and is saved by Lucie Manette and Sydney Carton, who looks like him. Stryver argues with Carton over the matters of marrying while Dr. Manette continues thinking in times of stress that he is a cobbler. Monseigneur the Marquis kills someone's baby and is assassinated during the next night after meeting with his nephew Charles. Charles, Sydney, and Stryver all seek the heart of Lucie Manette. The Defarges lead a revolt against the Bastille, but the battle ends and the people still have no food. Charles Darnay is summoned to Paris to see an old acquaintance.
Book 3
In Book 3 of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Charles Darnay is escorted into a prison due to his paperwork showing that he is the current Marquis Evremonde. Lucie and her father arrive in Paris along with Lucie's daughter, and they try to save Charles by using Dr. Manette's power in the revolution to sway the court. Charles survives the trial and the bloodthirsty guillotine is still waiting. Madame Defarge brings forth a letter written by Dr. Manette while in captivity that explains the atrocities done by the Evremonde twins. Charles is found guilty, and his only salvation comes in the form of Sydney Carton sacrificing himself to be executed instead and Ms. Pross killing Madame Defarge. The Manettes, Mr. Lorry, and Darnay run away in a carriage back to England.
Characters
Mr. Jarvis Lorry - An employee of Tellson's Bank, Mr. Lorry is employed by Dr. Manette and takes care of Lucie's monetary issues. He symbolically gives Jerry Cruncher the message to deliver of "Recalled to life" (Dickens 7), which is a riddle until Dickens explains that Dr. Manette is recalled to life or free. Mr. Lorry focuses on business, and even loves to repeat the word business, but later on he becomes emotionally attached to Lucie and changes to give Stryver emotional rather than practical advice on marrying Lucie. Mr. Lorry is also a connection between Paris and London due to his business. He tries to uphold traditions as a member of Tellson's Bank.
Jerry Cruncher - Jerry is a primitive, violent man who works odd jobs at Tellson's Bank but calls himself an "honest tradesman" (Dickens 9). Jerry is nervous all of the time because his side job is digging up graves. He is superstitious and thinks that his wife's praying is the reason he does not find bodies in the graves. Jerry is often drunk. He begins to do good, however, when he identifies the evils of Barsad.
Lucie Manette - Lucie is a ray of hope who touches the lives of all who she meets. Her golden hair reminds her father of who he was before being imprisoned, and she makes juries feel empathy for prisoners when she does. She helps the other characters change for the better.
Dr. Alexander Manette - The French Revolutionaries view Dr. Manette as a living martyr due to what he suffered during his imprisonment, and he therefore holds power among them. He is recalled to life as a power tool for the Defarges, but he thinks that he is in prison every time something stressful occurs. He reverts to making shoes when Lucie gets married to Darnay and is no longer his to cherish, and also when Darnay is sentenced to death by guillotine.
Ernest "Jacques" Defarge - Once a servant to Dr. Manette, Ernest Defarge is a leader in the French Revolution and calls himself "Jacques" to blend in with other revolutionaries. Although he appears to be in a high position among the commoners, almost everything he does is an order from his wife. Lucy helps him feel empathy for Darnay, and he decides that after his wife kills Darnay, the revenge should end. When he disagrees with his wife and does not want the Manettes to suffer anymore, he is ignored and replaced. As a revolutionary, he wants to change the tradition of violence in France.
Madame Therese Defarge - Always knitting, Madame Defarge is the master puppeteer of the revolution, and planned all along for The Vengeance to control the era. She defiantly tells her husband to "tell Wind and Fire where to stop... but don't tell me" (Dickens 264). She is driven by revenge, not hope for a better life or country. All she thinks about is her siblings' deaths.
Charles "Darnay" Evremonde - Charles Darnay changes the tradition of the Evremonde family and tries to be peaceful and accepting. He resembles an archetypal fairy tale prince, and behaves respectfully, unlike his uncle the Marquis.
Marquis Evremonde - The arrogant twin of Charle's father, the Marquis is "attended by the Furies" (Dickens 87). A demon-like presence, the Marquis is the incarnation of evil. The most important detail about the Marquis is that his older brother was said to be even more evil, justifying Madame Defarge's thirst for Evremonde blood.
John Barsad (Solomon Pross) - A traitor to everyone except his partner Roger Cly, Barsad takes all of Miss Pross' wealth and becomes a spy in Paris. Barsad is a false witness in Darnay's trial, and will do anything for money. He is an Englishman who works as a French official, but is also spying on the French. Barsad is described as "one of the greatest scoundrels upon the earth since accursed Judas-which he certainly did look rather like" (Dickens 56). Later, however, he is partially redeemed when Sydney makes him help in a plot to save Darnay's life.
Miss Pross - Kind and forgiving, Miss Pross loves her brother despite everything that he does. She calls Lucie "Ladybird" and watches over her for most of Lucie's life. Miss Pross is quite stocky in build, which assists her when she conquers Madame Defarge in a classic struggle between love and hate.
Seamstress - The seamstress that Sydney meets shortly before both are executed by the guillotine comments that Sydney seems to be sent from heaven. The seamstress needs heavenly aid because she too is being sacrificed. She thinks that her death will be for the good of her family and the revolution even though she is innocent.
Sydney Carton - Hard-working and intellectual, Sydney tends to give all the credit for his work to Stryver, and drinks his life away instead. When he meets Lucie, he falls in love with her, but he has such a generous personality that he is happy Lucie does not love him back so that she can be with a man who can take better care of her than Sydney can. Sydney stops drinking after spending time with Lucie, and changes so much that he sacrifices himself to save Darnay. His personality changes as well, because in his final thoughts, he reflects that he really wants the Manettes and Darnay to be grateful and remember him, which is the opposite of how he used to give away the credit to his work. Sydney Carton is portrayed as a form of Christ figure by his sacrifices.
Important Quotes
"tell Wind and Fire where to stop... but don't tell me" (Dickens 264) - Madame Defarge's vengeance is more powerful than the elements themselves, and someone who can control even the wind and the fire still cannot control her hatred for the Evremondes.
"one of the greatest scoundrels upon the earth since accursed Judas-which he certainly did look rather like" (Dickens 56) - Barsad behaves treacherously throughout the book, but this quote is symbolic especially due to the form of betrayal that Judas is known for. Sydney Carton is portrayed as a Christ figure, and Judas is known for pointing out who Jesus was. Later on, Barsad is given the choice of betraying Sydney as the incorrect prisoner, but instead has changed and goes with Carton's plan.
"I am not unwilling to die, if the Republic which is to do so much good to us poor, will profit by my death" (Dickens 276) - Dickens shows the readers the irony of the revolution. The Republic that should be helping the poor is killing the poor. The poor seamstress is also "not unwilling to die," but under the condition that her death is for the greater good. Not only does the revolution kill her, but she dies for no benefit to anyone.
"murdering the prisoners... make yourself known to these devils" (Dickens 203) - Mr. Lorry denounces the actions of the revolutionists and says that they are murdering prisoners, which is the same thing that the nobility did before the revolution. He also calls them "devils," and this parallels the demon symbolism used to describe the Marquis, showing that the revolutionaries are no better than the Marquis.
"attended by the Furies" (Dickens 87) - The Marquis Evremonde is described to be "attended by Furies" when he drives his carriage partially due to the great speeds at which he drives, but also because of the devil symbolism. By being attended by demons, The Marquis himself is shown to be a creature from Hell.
"Recalled to life" (Dickens 7) - Mr. Lorry's statement is not only puzzling at first due to his lack of explanation, but it introduces the theme of rebirth, which recurs throughout the book. Darnay is brought to the brink of death and back much like Dr. Manette. The word "recall" also suggests that Dr. Manette was recalled to carry out a task, perhaps remember something so that he can finish it. This task is the vengeance of Madame Defarge.
"nearest trees, laid hold of by the fire, scorched and shriveled" (Dickens 179) - Dickens is describing the fires of the revolution after the Marquis is killed. Fire can symbolize rebirth, but the trees here are "scorched and shriveled." Instead of ashes for new trees to grow, the old trees are simply becoming more twisted. This symbolism shows that the new leaders of France are no better than the old, and could even be worse.
"all flashes away. Twenty-Three" (Dickens 292) - When Sydney dies, the women knitting barely look up. They simply count twenty-three, not even remembering his name. Only The Vengeance knows that this prisoner is special. The number twenty-three is symbolic because Psalm 23 from the Bible is where God is described as a good shepherd that can take care of humans, and Sydney recently began to be more religious, so it means a lot for him to die at peace.
"child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name" (Dickens 292) - Sydney does not actually know that there will be a child named after him, but he foresees it anyway because he has changed to care more about himself. Although he is laying his life down for another, he wants to be remembered for it.
"'How goes the Republic?' 'You mean the Guillotine'" (Dickens 242) - Sydney is talking to a patriot, and even the revolutionaries have forgotten their promise of brotherhood and prosperity. Dickens cautions that in revolution, there is no rebirth, there is only death.
Significance of Opening and Closing Scenes
In the first scene of the novel, Dickens describes the atrocities of the time period in both England and France. He explains that there is need for change, because people are dying needlessly due to the oppression of the nobility. Executioners are the most valuable members of society, and any crime will merit death.
In the final scene of the novel, Dickens uses the seamstress to show that although the French Revolution was successful in overthrowing the nobility, there was no reform. Not only are the needless executions continuing, but even innocent people are being slaughtered. Not only are innocents being killed, but those who fought the revolution are being killed by it despite their victory. All of the work done by the guillotine is said to be necessary for the creation of a Republic, but the Republic is being killed at the same time.
Theme: The Strife of the Poor
At the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, the poor are being slaughtered like pigs instead of being fed. It seems that the cause of their troubles is the fault of the nobility. The Marquis Evremonde brings this claim to life by killing a baby and throwing a worthless coin in compensation. The money is worthless because there is no more food to buy. The Marquis continues home to have chocolate served by four men. Even the chocolate servers are richer than the commoners. After the commoners revolt, however, the strife of the poor remains the same, and although the peasants have become well-armed, they are just as hungry as before. Still angry, the peasants blame their problems on the destroyed aristocracy, who also no longer have possessions. The peasants kill right and left thinking that their lives will improve, but the blood is not wine like they think, and the poor have no one left to blame. Although the poor are no longer abused and killed by the nobles, they are still being killed and mistreated by themselves. Dickens seems to be suggesting that the poor will always struggle to survive even when there are no rich people.
Graphic Satire
Propaganda
My propaganda button appeals to emotion by using symbolism and humor to make the viewer feel that joining the French Revolution is the honorable thing to do. By using a celebrity, the button appeals to popularity across different parts of the population, because celebrities are known to all, much like Dr. Manette was known by almost everyone in France. Instead of "The Rock," I used the pun "The Jacques" because the revolutionaries often were known as Jacques, and by changing the nickname, it gives the viewer something to identify to if they join the revolution. I also used more stone symbolism, because "The Rock" is holding a golden Medusa. Medusa is portrayed as angelic because turning enemies to stone is the purpose of the revolution, and making the killing golden gives the viewer a sense of justification for their hatred. The golden color also symbolizes hope within the dark image of the button, much like Lucy Manette is the golden light in the dark. "The Jacques" is holding Medusa because the propaganda is suggesting that if the viewer joins the French Revolution, they can fight for their light. Only those in the revolution are illuminated by the figurehead of the golden executioner.
Connections to Other Media
The Lottery - Shirley Jackson
The short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is similar to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens because both stories examine the themes of tradition and change. In A Tale of Two Cities, the upper class French citizens have unjust traditions of abuse towards the peasants and commoners. Despite the dissatisfaction of the population, the nobility does not change the traditions. Even when the peasants rise up and revolt against the nobility, the traditions do not cease because the commoners take up the torch of mistreating their fellow countrymen. Even the people that the revolutionaries were fighting for are killed in the purge. In "The Lottery," villagers annually hold a tradition of killing a random member of their community. No one knows why the tradition takes place, even Old Man Warner, but everyone participates in the cruel activity. Each time someone calls for even a slight change, the community silences them and ignores the request. The woman who is chosen to be sacrificed in "The Lottery," Mrs. Hutchinson, is friends with other members of the society, but even her husband sides against her when she is sentenced to death. The annual lottery is said to be beneficial for the community, but the members are harmed, similar to how the revolution for the French poor ends up killing an innocent seamstress in A Tale of Two Cities.
Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery." Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Evangelion X - Anonymuz
The song "Evangelion X" by Anonymuz has many similarities to "The Vengeance" from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. The Vengeance is often referred to as a character, but is simply the idea that Madame Defarge pursues. Vengeance is the foundation of the revolution despite the facade of brotherhood. The song "Evangelion X" follows a character in a torn apart city where he is the last constant that people cling to. He states that he "put the city on my back like I'm Atlas," much like The Vengeance carries the will of the peasants on her shoulders. The main character of the song also states that "I am not a god, I am not a man... I'm a being, I'm a presence, I'm a thing," which mirrors The Vengeance being present everywhere Madame Defarge goes despite being inhuman. Both the song by Anonymuz and the book by Charles Dickens follow the only solid ground in a falling city.
Lovell, Night. Evangelion X. Anonymuz. Night Lovell, 2014. SoundCloud. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Allusions to A Tale of Two Cities
The comedy show Family Guy features a character that behaves almost identically to Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Brian, the Griffin family's dog, is likely the most educated resident in the household. He offers his intellectual support to help the family through a wide variety of problems, but Peter Griffin, the father, tends to take credit for Brian's achievements. Peter is arrogant and loud, mirroring Stryver from A Tale of Two Cities, who also takes credit for Sydney's work. Like Sydney, Brian drowns his troubles with alcohol, and is rarely sober. He sees the Griffin family behaving obnoxiously towards the town and tries to ignore it by fetching alcohol and leaving the vicinity. The two also both make sacrifices on behalf of their friends who rarely appreciate them. Sydney lays down his life to save Charles so that Lucy can keep her husband and little Lucy will have a father. Brian sacrifices his dignity to try to win money at a dog show to buy a new air conditioner. Brian and Sydney both take up mature roles despite their ages to support their friends.
McFarlane, Seth, prod. Family Guy. Fox Broadcasting Company. Netflix. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Journals
Compare/Contrast Lorry & Defarge
In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Mr. Lorry and Monsieur Defarge are both influential men who help Lucie and her father. Defarge, unlike Mr. Lorry, takes orders from his wife as to how he should act. Mr. Lorry acts independently to bring Lucie to meet her father, but at the wine-shop, Defarge seems to be in charge while his wife Madame Defarge "coughed just one grain of cough" in response to her husband arriving. The cough orders Defarge to look among the customers for a newcomer. Every insignificant cough by Madame Defarge is a prompt that controls the discussion that the men have. Defarge is simply a facade, not truly as powerful as he appears. Mr. Lorry, however, is in control of himself, and sends Jerry as a messenger with his own puzzling prompts. When his stagecoach appears to be robbed, he remains calm and does not mind bein accused. Mr. Lorry and Defarge worked for Dr. Manette before he was locked up, but Mr. Lorry works to preserve traditions while Defarge wants to change the status quo.
Write a character analysis of Carton
Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is very much like Mr. Lorry due to his facade of detachment from personal affairs while he is truly emotional at heart. Carton helps save Charles Darnay' life, but is not very friendly with him afterwards. He is known to drink often, and Darnay is aware of this. Carton asks Darnay "How does it feel" (Dickens 63) to be tried for his life where he gets the pity of Lucie Manette, perhaps envying the emotions Darnay has for Lucie. Carton does a good deed by convincing the jury to spare an innocent man's life, but tells himself that "no man on earth cares for me" (Dickens 63). Instead of being sociable and kind like his actions seem to suggest of him, Carton drinks his life away, tormented. He is called a jackal by Dickens in comparisson to his associate Stryver being known as a lion. Lions are prideful and up-front carnivores who are famous for bravery, but jackals are predators who hide in the shadows. Sydney Carton, living up to this title, is in the day only seen "going home stealthily and unsteadily" (Dickens 65). Like Mr. Lorry, he is very methodical and although he helps Darnay like Mr. Lorry helps Lucie and her father, he keeps the interactions labelled on the surface as business although he is kind deep down.
Villanelle
Dreams of the Revolution
To arms; we storm the Bastille
Our salvation is nigh
Oh how marvelous it will feel
The iron bars back I peel
The aristocracy will shortly die
To arms; we storm the Bastille
What will we find? I seek a meal
A morsel could satisfy
Oh how marvelous it will feel
Hear the hiss of our cold steel
Now hear our battlecry
To arms; we storm the Bastille
Our success seems surreal
Hush now; my throat runs dry
Oh how marvelous it will feel
Now returns our ordeal
Empty stomachs still cry
To arms; we storm the Bastille
Oh how marvelous it will feel